Journalistic discourse

The selection of analyzed publications at this stage has undergone minor changes and has the following form.

Daily Newspapers:

:Kuban News;;

:Free Kuban;;

:Krasnodar News;;

: Kuban today;

Weekly Newspapers:

:Krasnodar;;

:7 days of Kuban;;

:Moskovsky Komsomolets in the Kuban;;

:Regional News;;

:Independent voice of Kuban;.

The main trend of the regional journalistic discourse continues to be the practice of updating the ethnic when debating the topic of migration. "Kubanskiye novosti" dated September 20 made an attempt to analyze the recent results of the migration policy of the Krasnodar authorities. As a positive result, there is a reduction in the first half of 2003 of the migration increase (amounted to 5739 people) by 14.2% compared to the first half of 2002. The multinational composition of migrants is considered as its main characteristic. The fact that "in the migration balance the share of Russians increased by 11.3 percent, Greeks - by 2.3 times, Belarusians - by 1.7 times" stands out as a positive trend. An absolutely opposite attitude is demonstrated towards migrants attributed to other ethnic groups. "The number of citizens of Armenian nationality has a significant impact on the demographic situation in the region. But as a result of the work carried out by the administration of the region and the Central Internal Affairs Directorate to stabilize migration processes, there has been a decrease in the number of citizens who arrived from outside the Kuban, including those of Armenian nationality" .

Discussions about migration on a nationwide scale are accompanied by outright xenophobic attitudes. M. Begletsov, the author of the material published in "Kuban Today" on September 3, preferred to start it by quoting an anecdote. "An anecdote was published in the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper. "A survey of Muscovites conducted on the streets on the topic "How do you feel about a large number of visitors?" gave the following results. 40 percent of the respondents answered "Ha-arasho, listen." Another 40 percent - "Wah, let them come!" The remaining 20 percent could not answer this question, as they turned out to be non-local ." The analysis of migration processes is reduced by the author to postulating the idea of ​​"Caucasian expansion." "Compared to 1955, the number of representatives of the Caucasian peoples in Moscow increased by more than 200 times. The largest of the Caucasian diasporas is the Azerbaijani one, which numbers about one million. It has been calculated that if the Caucasian demographic expansion continues in the context of the current extinction of "persons of Slavic nationality", then, taking into account the love of children of the southern guests, in half a century only Azerbaijanis can make up about a third of the population of Moscow" . That this is an extremely negative trend, the author convinces readers by presenting the characteristics of migrants and their daily practices. "Migrants consist mainly of an unskilled mass, and more often of the most elementary criminals. The main thing is that all these non-humans brought their own customs and habits to Moscow, they do not chime with the local population, they bend it over. Unlike Uzbeks, Turkmens, Chinese, Caucasians do not sit in the shadows, they terrorize all of Russia . "

Another regular contributor to this newspaper, V. Loginov, prefers to discuss with readers the fate of the Russian people, which, in his opinion, is dying out. The author also begins his speech in "Kuban Today" on October 17 with a demonstration of "statistical" data. "In other places, there are fewer and fewer Russians. A striking fact: among the inhabitants of Moscow, only a third are Russians. Only a third!" This situation is explained by the fact that it is the Russians who bear all the burdens of the socio-economic transformations being carried out in the country. “The fact that Russians are suffering first of all is no secret to anyone. Various kinds of suffering lead to premature death. Of course, this also applies to other peoples inhabiting Russia, but only the number of Russians is declining faster than anyone. They ended up on their own land the most vulnerable . " The author sees this as the result of a purposeful policy pursued by certain forces. "Probably, the goal is to exterminate Russians in Russia. This plan was born by Russophobes in the West, and, no matter how bitter it is to admit, the insidious plan is being successfully implemented" .

The fact that the position he demonstrates carries a xenophobic component, the author is fully aware, but seeks to challenge this conclusion. "I bring to the attention of idle guards: I do not accept the slogan "Russia is only for Russians!" the great Russian people are reverently, as they treat an older brother in a large family. So that they respect our culture, religion and customs. Unfortunately, at the everyday level it often happens differently, and this worries the Russian brother, he feels unprotected. " The given interpretation is a typical example of positive self-presentation, when the speaker hides his prejudices, transferring all responsibility for what is happening to the actions of representatives of other groups. This is most clearly manifested in the main, in the opinion of the author, argument. "I am Russian, and Russians have never suffered from the disease of the envious - chauvinism -. This misfortune will not take root in the Russian soul if they do not spit in the soul" .

The central theme of the ethnic migrant discourse in the region is the debating of questions regarding the Meskhetian Turks. Press coverage of the October visit of a representative delegation of functionaries from various international organizations clearly demonstrated its characteristic content. "Kubanskiye novosti" of October 21, already at the very beginning of its publication, unequivocally classifies the Meskhetian Turks as illegal migrants, defining the goals of the visitors as follows. "They were interested in the relationship between the Meskhetian Turks who illegally settled in the Kuban and the local population . " The activities of the Meskhetian Turks in the region are characterized in the same unambiguously negative way, but with references to the heads of local administrations. "Representatives of this people ignore the laws of the Russian Federation and the Krasnodar Territory, do not have registration at the place of residence, illegally engage in entrepreneurial activities, are a constant source of offenses, constantly come into conflict with the local population, which has already given rise to interethnic strife" . The solution of the problem situation is seen by the authors of the publication in the resettlement of the Meskhetian Turks to Georgia. This conclusion is substantiated by references to public opinion. "The inhabitants of these two regions [Crimean and Abinsk] have repeatedly and unanimously declared to all sorts of commissions that came to talk on this topic: measures must be taken to resettle the Meskhetian Turks to their historical homeland - Georgia. And this commission was once again told the same the heads of rural districts of districts, atamans of Cossack societies, members of the public " . In their opinion, the US government could act as a force to put pressure on Georgia. The different position demonstrated by the members of the international delegation on this issue was assessed negatively. "The conversation turned out like a blind man with a deaf man: representatives of international organizations talked about human rights, about the bitter fate of the migrants and advised the Kuban people themselves, the Russian Foreign Ministry to negotiate with the Georgian authorities . "

A more lengthy, but filled with the same meaning, report about the visit was published by the newspaper "7 Days of Kuban" No. 43. The author of the publication shifts all the blame for the conflict situation in the region to the Meskhetian Turks, opposing them to representatives of other ethnic groups. "Members of the international delegation were told that representatives of 86 nationalities peacefully coexist in the region. Speakers at the meeting noted that while the vast majority of national minorities actively participate in the socio-political life of the city and region, the Meskhetian Turks, having withdrawn themselves, do not even want to study Russian language". At the same time (with no less displeasure), it is noted that "the new generation of Turks, who grew up on Kuban soil, looks at the prospect of returning to their historical homeland differently than their parents, and feels by no means "temporary". Today, the main requirement of the Turks - not leaving for their historical homeland, but granting them Russian citizenship, moreover, the long procedure does not suit them" . As evidence, data are given about the Meskhetian Turks ignoring the requirements for the need to obtain migration cards. Explanations on the part of the Turks of such actions by the fact that they should be subject to the rules for obtaining Russian citizenship, provided for by the law of 1991, are characterized as unfounded. And the solidarity of the members of the delegation with the position of the Meskhetian Turks on most issues frankly disappointed and "dispelled the last illusions" of both the participants in the meetings from the Krasnodar side and the author of the publication. "After these words, it became clear: the commission, alas, is far from being the last one. And the solution of the problem of repatriation of the Meskhetians has not advanced a single step . "

Debating migrant issues is an important part of regional political discourse. "Kuban Today" dated September 6 published an article with a critical analysis of the actions to implement the Program of the Kuban Cossack Host. One of the main points of both the Program and its criticism is the solution of migration problems. The author of the publication reproaches the Cossacks with weak activity in this direction, drawing the current situation as follows. “How many tears are shed by Russians who are deprived of their native citizenship (at the behest of the supreme players in the fate of people) and forced to stand in lines at the windows of the OVIR for a long time. While representatives of various “dark-skinned” nationalities quickly settle down with us and feel like masters in Vishnyakovsky and other markets of the region " . What initiatives are expected from the Cossacks in this situation can be easily imagined.

At the same time, the Krasnodar press, following politicians, regards the actions of foreign organizations and Russian human rights activists in the field of interethnic relations with distrust, and most often extremely negatively. "Kuban Today" dated October 7 published a note with the impressions of one of the participants about the seminar held in Krasnodar on the problems of the media and the protection of the rights of ethnic minorities, at which representatives of the K. Adenauer Foundation made presentations. Its author critically assesses the possibilities of applying European experience in solving these problems in Russian conditions, and the discussion at the seminar of the question of under what circumstances ethnic minorities need to acquire the status of cultural, and then territorial autonomy, prompted him to demonstrate his own understanding of the realities of today's interethnic relations in the region. However, it does not differ in any way from the views prevailing in the regional public discourse.

They are based on the idea of ​​opposing the so-called indigenous population and migrants representing certain ethnic groups. “Why should the indigenous population suffer because of the newcomers whom no one invited to the Kuban? On the contrary, it was as if they entered into their position, allowed them ... And what, don’t the majority, the indigenous population, have rights? In our region for more than 200 years ago, a society began to form with its own mentality, history and tradition, a certain ratio of ethnic groups. All this time, people lived peacefully and amicably, especially in the Soviet period " . The author considers other ethnic migration to be the main factor that ensures the problematic nature of the situation, attributing various negative qualities to migrants. "In the recent period, the number of individual ethnic groups - Crimean Tatars, Meskhetian Turks, Kurds - has sharply increased, which has become a burden on social infrastructure, infringed on the rights of local residents. In addition, this category of migrants, in their way of life, the level of civilization, not only did not fit in culture and customs, but even was and is in some of its manifestations hostile" . The main danger is seen in a reduction in the number of Russians in the region and a decrease in their share in the ethnic composition. According to the author, in the end, this process will turn into a Kosovo version, only with much more terrible consequences. "One can imagine the prospect of the Kuban with the population of Russians below the critical line. It is the Russians who are the people who cement all possible forms of well-being of representatives of other nationalities living here. As soon as they begin to claim their rights to territorial autonomy (and Kurds and Meskhetian Turks numbering several tens of thousands of people already live compactly today), a stage of active inter-ethnic conflicts will begin, where not two, but many more parties will act .

The experience of European, and Western countries in general, the author does not accept, because "within the framework of the capitalist formation, there is no solution to the national question" . Salvation is seen in a special Russian, or rather Soviet, path. "The experience of Russia's movement towards a just and spiritual society is unique and invaluable. Is it worth forgetting that for almost the entire 20th century the world learned from the Soviet people to live in conscience, in peace and harmony ... Socialism, slandered and continuing to feed all these theorists and dreamers of "liberal Russian empire" with its modest principle "national in form, socialist in content" at one time successfully solved the problems of national minorities in half the countries of the world .

Another characteristic feature of the Krasnodar journalistic discourse is the resort to ethnic categorizations when discussing the problems of crime and other illegal actions. On September 19, "Kuban Today" published the opinion of its reader, a deputy of the district council, about the ways in which Koreans conduct agricultural business in the Leningrad region of the region. The assessments of the author of the publication are categorical. "On the fields of their farms, people without a fixed place of residence are being mercilessly exploited, who work under the scorching sun all daylight hours for a bowl of stew and a glass of moonshine. They can be beaten, set dogs on them. field without paying a penny for their work . An even more conflict situation should be expected from the involvement of residents of Dagestan in agricultural work. Worried about their possible deception ( "after all, Koreans do not like to pay their workers" ), the author at the same time demonstrates distrust of the Dagestanis themselves, suggesting various offenses on their part. "Have these people been sanitized, have they been vaccinated? It is unlikely. But the Dagestanis will be in contact with local residents, many will even try to settle down in the area. Secondly. Where will 240 people be accommodated? In field booths, littering local forest belts. And where will they get firewood for the kitchen? Obviously, cut down trees " . The result of such "inter-ethnic relations" seems unambiguous. "After all, the Dagestanis are not homeless. And they are unlikely to allow the Koreans to deceive themselves. Then, when calculating, conflict situations will arise, and the leaders will have a headache . "

Such stigmatized groups as Roma and Meskhetian Turks are invariably identified in newspaper publications as criminal acts. As an example, we can cite recommendations published by Kuban Today on September 12, citing law enforcement agencies, warning against falling for the tricks of scammers. Among other things, there is also an "ethnic" fragment. "Do not let the gypsies approach you on the street, and even more so let them grab your hands. Thus, you fall into the field of psychological influence and give rise to continued contact. If you are surrounded by a group of gypsies or you feel that they want to rob you, do not be shy loudly call for help .

A note in "Kuban Today" dated September 2 was devoted to the problems of non-compliance with labor laws by employers, reducing employees to the status of slaves. Giving examples of such exploitation, the author of the publication (already mentioned M. Begletsov) could not but "mark" all the same gypsies. “In the northern capital, gypsies specialize in slavery. For example, in the Mir hotel they found a “commune” of beggars, consisting of 10-12 Russians. The organization of labor was a brigade, and the gypsies were the foremen. , clothes and shoes. Well, of course, they beat the labor force for warning " .

Against the background of numerous essentially intolerant publications, the appearance of complimentary materials in the regional press is extremely insignificant. For the most part, they are messages and reports about various folklore festivals and similar events. Thus, on September 13, "Free Kuban" published the announcement of the traditional festival of national cultures in the city of Novorossiysk, heading the message "Culture brings people together" in a standard formula . Having stated that in the city "people of different nationalities live in good neighborhood and harmony", the author of the publication dwelled on the presentation of the largest national-cultural public organizations operating in it, noting that "today more than a dozen societies are engaged in the revival of national cultures of peoples" .

"Free Kuban" on September 12 presented a report on the regional meeting on the results of the implementation of the state program "Russian Language". The central theme of the event was the consideration of the issue of the Russian language as the language of interethnic communication. The author of the publication, following the participants of the meeting, stated that in the region "there have always been many people of various nationalities, for whom the Russian language was not native, in schools there were difficulties with teaching the Russian language to such children" . According to the speakers, sometimes it is the lack of language knowledge that prevents representatives of national minorities living in the region from living and working. Representatives of the regional administration promised all possible assistance in teaching the Russian language, and, above all, to provide appropriate benefits for students of national schools. "The better people of different nationalities in a multinational region speak Russian, the less problems they have in interethnic communication" .

One of the central topics of the autumn publications of the Krasnodar press was the discussion of the construction of a dam on the Tuzla spit in the Temryuk region and the accompanying crisis in Russian-Ukrainian relations. A campaign was launched in the media to legitimize the actions of the regional administration and the opinion expressed by the governor about the historical belonging of the modern island of Tuzla (now the territory of Ukraine) to the Krasnodar Territory. It is gratifying to note that the debate of this problem was not accompanied by the actualization of the discourse of interethnic relations, the use of ethnic categorizations was minimal. The idea of ​​friendship between the two peoples, good-neighborly relations between them was a red thread. However, the attempt of the organizers of the propaganda campaign to prevent the incitement of interethnic hatred sometimes took on an ugly character. All regional newspapers published the results of a sociological survey conducted on the initiative of the regional administration on the attitude of the inhabitants of the region to the construction of the dam, illustrated by the verbatim comments of the respondents. These replicas were structured along ethnic lines: 15 phrases were attributed to Russians and 5 to Ukrainians. Needless to say, they all fully supported the actions of the governor, not allowing even a hint of criticism. The typical position of Russians can be considered the words: "The territory of Russia, the coast is being strengthened. The territory of the borders must be strengthened . " The Ukrainians also assessed the situation in a similar way: " "This is our, Russian part, and then it encloses Taman so that people are not flooded . The words of the Ukrainian were intended to confirm the absence of tension: " "Two fraternal peoples must live together, and in general, communication is needed between the Krasnodar Territory and Ukraine .

The discussion of the Tuzla problem prompted some journalists to debate the socio-political situation in Crimea. "Kuban Today" of November 21 presented the point of view of the same M. Begletsov on the activities of the Crimean Tatar nationalists. "What are they doing today? They launched agitation and propaganda among the Crimean Tatar population to increase social and national tension in the region. People who returned to their historical homeland are urged to "seize their land before it's too late. " Alushta "When the passions around Tuzla were in full swing, the extremists seized a section of the Alushta coast and announced that they would build a mosque and a madrasah here. The city council of Alushta met to discuss the state of emergency. A mullah came to the meeting, accompanied by hefty Tatar guys. Mulla said that it would be as they decided, and the Tatars left the hall .

The activation of the activities of the Crimean Tatar leaders is associated with the policy of Western states in the region. It is the latter who appear as the main instigators of inciting inter-ethnic confrontation. "It's no secret that radical nationalist organizations are directly connected with Turkey and the United States, which, through all sorts of funds and grants, finance radical groups in Crimea. In words, the financial flows are intended to "support the cultural development" of the Crimean Tatars, but in reality this money "works" on the organization of propaganda of the ideas of the chosenness of the Crimean Tatar people, the fact that they have "special" rights to the Crimea and to support Wahhabism" .

As a result, the author once again produces a "world conspiracy theory", pushing the boundaries of the issue under consideration to the level of global confrontation. “While the Slavic brothers divide the Kerch Strait and reconstruct the Tuzla Spit, each on its own side, while Kiev demonstrates intransigence, the southern coast of Crimea can set sail towards Turkey. Turkey has recently been making a serious tilt towards Islamic fundamentalism .

The conflictological model of social reality continues to be dominant in journalistic discourse, and not only in it. The world is conceived exclusively as a confrontation between certain forces. The postulation of ethnicity as a fundamental characteristic of this world, as one of its main, if not the main, classification basis inevitably leads to a "problematic" perception of interethnic relations. So the methods of political correctness alone cannot change such a discourse.